Lucky for us, Halloween was one of the TWO days this month that we didn't have any rain. But, that also meant we had a carpet of wet leaves that needed to be raked before the trick-or-treaters showed up. Good thing we have such big helpers.
(Albeit one is a little more fashion-forward than the other).
This is also the first year that the kids were able to draw a semi-recognizable face that I could carve into a jack-o-lantern.
(I don't understand how two people who have such a fondness for dirt and grime can totally freak out over the consistency of pumpkin innards. One touch and they refused to do anything else except draw on them).
This year the Oak Park Halloween Parade fell on Halloween. After a last run to the Farmer's Market to get a box of homemade donuts before they close until the spring (sniff, sniff), we dressed the kids in costumes and hit the streets.
(Is it terrible that we played up the idea that they would be kitties again this year just so I wouldn't have to deal with finding another costume? Yes, I am fully aware how lame I am. I also know how panicked I get under the pressure of finding good costumes...and I'm afraid Sadie and Linus are growing too fast to get a third year out of them.)
There were a lot more people participating this year than last. And I think the kids enjoyed it slightly more than last year mostly because they figured out that holding a pumpkin for people to drop candy into is pretty fun.
But what they were most excited about was giving out candy to the other trick-or-treaters at our house. They had a system - they lined up each piece of candy on the porch so that it was readily accessible each time someone came up the stairs. What they didn't anticipate was the number of people. It was hilarious watching them scramble to refill their supply every minute or so.
After going through 5 bags of candy, we took a break so the kids could go around the block and collect candy of their own.
The kids had so much fun that they still haven't taken their costumes off. When we went outside to finish raking leaves yesterday they had to dress in their kitty outfits, and this morning after school they stripped off their regular clothes so they could play "Kitty".
I hope their costumes next year are as big a hit. I'm already starting to feel the pressure...
I hope you all had a Happy Halloween too!
